17" C2D MBP LCD -- what to expect?

[akadmon]

I've been considering buying the 17" model since the announcement (one reason is I can get it for the nearly the same price as a 15" MBP with a 160GB hd), but after a visit to an Apple Store today and comparing the LCDs on the new 15" C2Ds to the one on the old 17" CD I'm beginning to have some second thoughts.

Compared to 15" C2D LCDs, the 17" CD LCD appears much less bright and has significantly worse viewing angles. I don't recall there was that much of a difference between the 17" CD and the old 15" CD. Yet I don't believe Apple is advertising higher brightness and better viewing angles on the new 15" C2Ds compared to previous model.

Can anyone who has seen the old 15" CD side by side with the 15" C2D comment on how the two LCDs compare? Does anyone know if Apple has bumped up the brightness and viewing angle ratings of the 17" C2D?

Anyway, these questions are probably moot since, if I buy a 17" MBP, it will be at an Apple Store after I've had a chance to look at it. But if you guys think that the LCD will be identical to the one on the old CD 17" MBP, then I might as well not waste my time waiting for the 17" C2Ds to show up in the stores (which may not happen before Thanksgiving, judging by the delay notices those who have ordered online have been getting).

 

[DHagan4755]

It will be interesting to see what the C2D 17-inch MBP LCD looks like. (Geez enough acronyms for ya?)

AppleInsider hints the shipping delay with the 17-inch might actually be a manufacturing issue with the display.

 

[akadmon]

I can't believe that none of you guys waiting for your 17" C2D have any input on this subject

The LCDs on the previous CD model are simply unacceptable, given the cost of the machine. If I wasn't sure the new model will have an improved LCD, I certainly would not order one online. I sense a lot of you are in for a nasty surprise after spending 4 weeks refreshing your FedEx page

 

[eddietr]

I don't know. I've seen the 17" CD screen and I wasn't unhappy with it. Maybe my standards are lower or something.

In fact, I'm perfectly happy with my 15" CD screen also. Although I know some people complain about that.

I just need the extra real estate for development. And I actually don't want as wide a viewing angle as some. I find that people around me spend a lot of time watching me work, which I don't really like.

And in my experience, the unevenness has to do with my head position. I naturally tend to have my head to the left of my screen, which causes the left to be brighter. But it really doesn't bother me. If I move my head to the right, then it's brighter on the right.

 

[drlunanerd]

I noticed the lack of brightness on the 17" CD MBP too when doing a comparison of several units. Was really surprised.

There are people on here who will swear blind that the C2D MBPs have got new improved displays, are "perfect", "flawless" etc.

They're not. They aren't great LCDs, period. Any reasonable quality external panel blows them away every time.

Fact is I've not seen any laptop LCD that's been great, and I've seen a lot. You just have to get used to them, and if you need really accurate colour, even backlighting and wide viewing angles you need to connect an external monitor.

 

[eddietr]

Good point. My expectations for a laptop monitor are not the same as a desktop monitor.

When I say the Apple monitors are fine, I mean I haven't seen a laptop screen that's any better. The screens (especially the glossy one) are pretty nice looking.

Of course, again, I'm not into design or photography. So my needs/expectations are probably different.

BTW, some desktop screens are better. But try putting them in your bag and taking them to a client site.

 

[akadmon]

Good point. My expectations for a laptop monitor are not the same as a desktop monitor.

When I say the Apple monitors are fine, I mean I haven't seen a laptop screen that's any better. The screens (especially the glossy one) are pretty nice looking.

Of course, again, I'm not into design or photography. So my needs/expectations are probably different.

BTW, some desktop screens are better. But try putting them in your bag and taking them to a client site.

I dunno. I'm on a 4+ year Compaq laptop with 14" 1400x1050 screen. While it's not as bright as today's LCDs (yet no less bright than the 17" MBP, go figure!) it most definitely has even backlighting and more than adequate viewing angles. It also looks a lot sharper than any Apple LCD I've seen, including the ACDs!!! Text as small as 6 pts appears sharp and black, whereas on all Apple LCDs text looks washed out, more grey than black. Does anyone know if this is something related to how the Mac OS renders text, or just the general characteristic of the LCDs Apple uses, i.e., does the text look blacker and sharper when running Windows in Bootcamp?

 

[iW00t]

I noticed the lack of brightness on the 17" CD MBP too when doing a comparison of several units. Was really surprised.

There are people on here who will swear blind that the C2D MBPs have got new improved displays, are "perfect", "flawless" etc.

They're not. They aren't great LCDs, period. Any reasonable quality external panel blows them away every time.

Fact is I've not seen any laptop LCD that's been great, and I've seen a lot. You just have to get used to them, and if you need really accurate colour, even backlighting and wide viewing angles you need to connect an external monitor.

The ones used in the 15" are most definitely TN panels. Guess I will be upgrading to the next rev soon when they (hopefully) put in a better LCD.

 

[gr8tfly]

Does anyone know if this is something related to how the Mac OS renders text, or just the general characteristic of the LCDs Apple uses, i.e., does the text look blacker and sharper when running Windows in Bootcamp?

In OS-X, text is smoothed (anti-aliased). The degree of smoothing can be manually set, or will automatically change, depending on type of display (LCD/CRT). You can also adjust the minimum font size for smoothing. (System Preferences > Appearance)

If there is too much smoothing, it can make the text appear less black. It's one of those personal preference things.

 

[akadmon]

In OS-X, text is smoothed (anti-aliased). The degree of smoothing can be manually set, or will automatically change, depending on type of display (LCD/CRT). You can also adjust the minimum font size for smoothing. (System Preferences > Appearance)

If there is too much smoothing, it can make the text appear less black. It's one of those personal preference things.

Thanks. I'll try playing with this setting next time I'm at the Apple Store.

 

[eddietr]

does the text look blacker and sharper when running Windows in Bootcamp?

I find it does, yes. That's even true in parallels with win2k.

 

[akadmon]

does the text look blacker and sharper when running Windows in Bootcamp? .

I find it does, yes. That's even true in parallels with win2k.

Hm. I suspected it had something to do with the OS. As I said in my previous post, I'll try to see if this can be improved by changing the anti-aliasing settings in the System Preferences. And I hope things will improve in Leopard...

 

[akadmon]

Hm. I suspected it had something to do with the OS. As I said in my previous post, I'll try to see if this can be improved by changing the anti-aliasing settings in the System Preferences. And I hope things will improve in Leopard...

I went to the same Apple store today and played with the font smoothing options. Setting the setting (sic!) at even the lowest level of font smoothing (CRT) made hardly any difference, at least to my eyes. Well, that's one "feature" of the Mac OS that I certainly don't appreciate.

 

[asondica]

i'll post a response to this thread when my 17 arrives.
it's been picked up in the first batch today by fedex.
likely ~30-50 hours until it arrives in my intel-hungry hands

 

[akadmon]

i'll post a response to this thread when my 17 arrives.
it's been picked up in the first batch today by fedex.
likely ~30-50 hours until it arrives in my intel-hungry hands

Not so fast! Assuming they were shipped out to the stores at the same time, I may be able to see one in person by Wednesday evening.

I'm second from the top on the waiting list, but I don't think I'll be buying it right away. Oh sure, I will make the trip to the store when I get the call, but only to have a look. The guy at the store assured me that they will have a display unit set up so that I don't buy the machine sight unseen. Anyway, unless the display is drop-dead-gorgeous, I think I may go with a poor man's config of the Mac Pro (2.66 Ghz /2GB mem/low end video card) and a 24" Dell monitor. This kind of setup will cost me about $700 more than the 17" MBP, but I'll sleep better at night

 

[asondica]

Not so fast! Assuming they were shipped out to the stores at the same time, I may be able to see one in person by Wednesday evening.

I'm second from the top on the waiting list, but I don't think I'll be buying it right away. Oh sure, I will make the trip to the store when I get the call, but only to have a look. The guy at the store assured me that they will have a display unit set up so that I don't buy the machine sight unseen. Anyway, unless the display is drop-dead-gorgeous, I think I may go with a poor man's config of the Mac Pro (2.66 Ghz /2GB mem/low end video card) and a 24" Dell monitor. This kind of setup will cost me about $700 more than the 17" MBP, but I'll sleep better at night

nuh uh, you not so fast !
i should have it by wednesday morning hehe
but yes, if it's cruddy, i'll be exchanging for a better or a 15.. but i bet it won't be

either way - let's just stay positive, hopeful and.. let's both post as soon as we get a look

 

[asondica]

I think I may go with a poor man's config of the Mac Pro (2.66 Ghz /2GB mem/low end video card) and a 24" Dell monitor. This kind of setup will cost me about $700 more than the 17" MBP, but I'll sleep better at night

actually, you know.. i've been wondering this for a while now today..

why do any of you switch to a mac pro from a mbp?
did you not really need the mobility to begin with?
not being critical, just curious is all

 

[akadmon]

actually, you know.. i've been wondering this for a while now today..

why do any of you switch to a mac pro from a mbp?
did you not really need the mobility to begin with?
not being critical, just curious is all

I can't speak for others, but me, well -- I already have a company laptop, which I have been using as my home computer. There are 3 other computers in our house, two are PC towers that my daughters use, and one is an old Mac Quadra circa 1993 that I turn on a couple of times a year when I get nostalgic to play some Maelstrom.

Anyway, I decided I do need my own computer, one reason being that I do most of my finances on line and I don't feel comfortable with the thought that my employer has a legitimate right to this data because I use the company laptop. Besides, I do download an occasionally contraband mp3s and such (I'll deny everything when pressed, I swear!!! ) and that could really get me into trouble.

We've recently converted our spare bedroom to a home office (nice big L-shaped desk, executive swivel chair, the works); and whereas previously I used my laptop all over the house, these days I find myself always sitting at the desk... except for times like right now, when I go for an extended visit to the bathroom Really, it's beginning to look more and more like I would be better off with a desktop! The only reason why I haven't rushed out to get that Mac Pro is that the $3300 or so I'd have to spend on it and a monitor is a good 30% more than my original budget.

 

[asondica]

I can't speak for others, but me, well........

wow - detail! hehe.. thanks
gotcha.
and yeah, i can see how a desktop would make more sense in your case.

though i must say - having a laptop sure bring a great sense of freedom and ease to one's mind - if you ever need it, it can be right there with you!

i'm not sure i'd ever get a mac pro unless i had the dough for both it and the mbp.. which, as a student with very little incoming dough, i do not

and finally, why a mac pro as opposed to an iMac? what do you do for a living (if i may ask)? again, i'm just curious / nosey

 

[akadmon]

wow - detail! hehe.. thanks
gotcha.
and yeah, i can see how a desktop would make more sense in your case.

though i must say - having a laptop sure bring a great sense of freedom and ease to one's mind - if you ever need it, it can be right there with you!

I'm not sure I'd ever get a mac pro unless i had the dough for both it and the mbp.. which, as a student with very little incoming dough, i do not
e
and finally, why a mac pro as opposed to an iMac? what do you do for a living (if i may ask)? again, i'm just curious / nosey

Back at at my desk (ah, I feel better already )

I've also been considering the 24" iMac, but by the time I outfit it the way I want (2.33 GHz C2D, 2GB ram, 256 MMB video, 500 GB) I'm at the same price as a base 2.66 GHz Mac Pro with 2GB RAM, and I have a slower, non-expandable computer with a throw away screen. Oh, and frankly, the iMac still looks more like a toy than a serious computer

Do I need all this computer power? Prolly not. The most processor intensive stuff I'll ever do on it is edit home movies

 

[asondica]

Back at at my desk (ah, I feel better already )

I've also been considering the 24" iMac, but by the time I outfit it the way I want (2.33 GHz C2D, 2GB ram, 256 MMB video, 500 GB) I'm at the same price as a base 2.66 GHz Mac Pro with 2GB RAM, and I have a slower, non-expandable computer with a throw away screen. Oh, and frankly, the iMac still looks more like a toy than a serious computer

Do I need all this computer power? Prolly not. The most processor intensive stuff I'll ever do on it is edit home movies

lol!! wow.. a quad xeon system for the occasional home movie. still, i must admit you do raise the point that Apple really needs to make a Conroe mid-range headless desktop to fill the gap between the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro.

 

[akadmon]

lol!! wow.. a quad xeon system for the occasional home movie. still, i must admit you do raise the point that Apple really needs to make a Conroe mid-range headless desktop to fill the gap between the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro.

Now I'm curious...What is it that you want to do on your C2D MBP that requires more processor power than editing a home movie? Huh, huh???

 

[asondica]

Now I'm curious...What is it that you want to do on your C2D MBP that requires more processor power than editing a home movie? Huh, huh???

haha.. a lot more
Aperture (D70), Motion, FCP, etc. in terms of mobility over immobility: I'm a student between two homes (campus and family), two campuses (program), cottage trips possible at any time of the year, etc. and finally, in terms of macbook pro instead of consumer level: I also need the screen real estate, matte screen, expandability (expresscard for eSATA), and the backlit keyboard.

btw - sorry if that makes me sound arrogant or something.. just answering your q

if you get the mac pro though.. god damn i'll envy you

 

[akadmon]

haha.. a lot more
Aperture (D70), Motion, FCP, etc. in terms of mobility over immobility: I'm a student between two homes (campus and family), two campuses (program), cottage trips possible at any time of the year, etc. and finally, in terms of macbook pro instead of consumer level: I also need the screen real estate, matte screen, expandability (expresscard for eSATA), and the backlit keyboard.

btw - sorry if that makes me sound arrogant or something.. just answering your q

if you get the mac pro though.. god damn i'll envy you

You know, I could be using FCP, Motion, etc. to for editing my home movies -- why not!

 

[darkwing]

Piracy is bad. Hopefully lawsuits will follow like those who download MP3s illegally.

I went ahead and reported this thread.